marksman

This rifle team performed well in the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris. See the [Omaha, Neb] Monitor., August 08, 1924, page 1, towards bottom of column 3. chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/00225879/1924-08-08/ed-1/... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_C._McDougal "Douglas C. McDougal (April 23, 1876 – January 20, 1964) was the 10th Assistant to the Major General Commandant of the Marine Corps." The New Britain herald. June 26, 1924, Page 9, top of 2 right hand columns. chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014519/1924-06-26/ed-... states that the U.S. won gold, and the Haiti team was trained by the American Marines, saying, "General McDougall, of the Haitien Gendarmerie, who is a Lieutenant colonel of the United States Marine Corps, had the pleasure of seeing his dusky charges tie the redoubtable Finns and descendants of William Tell."

This image appeared with the following caption. "A great ovation was given the rifle team of Haiti on its return home after tying for second place in the Olympics. The victorious riflemen of the Gendarmerie d'Haiti, coached by United States marines, were accompanied to France by their commander, Col. Douglas McDougal U.S.M.C. in the foreground." Source: Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.), 17 Aug. 1924. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. (chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1924-08-17/ed-...)

Thanks swanq and Dean Z, we'll add this information to the catalog record. When I looked up the Olympic results from 1924 I saw Haiti got bronze despite tying for second with France. After tying, they held a shoot-off to determine who would get second and third and France won, so Haiti officially placed third.

This is appears to be (then (1921?)) Major Harry L. Smith (United States Marine Corps). He earned the Navy Cross for valor during the Great War and was quite the marksman. See information regarding Smith and his Marine Corps career at this site describing his since-sold USMC Marksmanship badge: 1914 USMC OFFICER ENGRAVED EXPERT USN SHOOTING AWARD MEDAL, FAMED USMC SHOOTING INSTRUCTOR & 1924 OLYMPICS HAITI COACH This is a historical engraved medal named to one of the top shots ever in the Marine Corps, Harry L. Smith. Smith served from 1909 to 1945 in various capacities but is most famous for being captain of the US Marine Rifle Team in the 1920's and winning multiple shooting championships. In 1924, along with Douglas MacDougal (leader of the Guarde D'Haiti and later general, see photo below), he trained and led the first ever Haitian Rifle Team into the 1924 Paris Olympics where the team won the bronze medal. The Haitians were are part of the Garde D'Haiti or Haitian Gendarmerie that the US Marines trained well into the late 1920's. Smith went on to become a Colonel and train thousands of Marine marksman. In 1919 he was recommended for a Navy Cross by BGen Eli Cole for contributing materially to the war effort, by ensuring that 90% of all recruits coming out of Paris Island in 1918 were qualified with the rifle. The Marines gained a reputation in France and Germany during WW1 for their oustanding marksmanship. He also was influential in the Marine Corps adaptation of the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle. The medal is a 1914 dated US Navy Sharpshooter medal that has an expert bar attached that is engraved "LIEUT. H.L. SMITH. U.S.M.C.". The planchet is engraved the same. The medal suspension is marked "THE HAYES BROS. CO". A wonderful and attributed medal to one of the best Marine marksmen of all time. Smith served with distinction during the Great War, earning the Navy Cross. See: Congressional Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross and the Distinguished Service Medal Issued by the War Department Since April 6, 1917: Up to and Including General Orders, No. 126, War Department, November 11, 1919 United States. Adjutant-General's Office U.S. Government Printing Office, 1920 Page 360 Harry L. Smith, first lieutenant, 13th Machine Gun Battalion. For extraordinary heroism in action near Cunel, France, October 14, 1918. Leaving his shelter in a shallow machine-gun emplacement, accompanied by one soldier, Lieut. Smith ventured forth through a most intense fire to the air of a wounded officer, and assisted in carrying him a distance of 170 yards to safety. Residence at appointment: Lucedale Miss.

I suggest he is infantry and the crossed rifles badge is a rifle marksman proficiency badge.

Yes, he is wearing an infantry marksman's badge of crossed rifles.